can't run cgi scripts

sdoyle · Guest

I want to run cgi scripts locally, but can't seem to get them to work. If I run the script from the browser (IE), it seems to work. If I try to run it via an HTML document, I get a blank screen or a pop-up screen asking me if I want to download the file. I have installed an interpreter. Also, if I try to run the HTML file from the browser it says that the file isn't available offline. I would appreciate any help I can get.

aprelium · - Joined: 22 Mar 2002 Posts: 6800

sdoyle · Guest

OK, here's what I'm trying to do. I'm just starting to learn to write cgi scripts using Perl. I want to be able to run them locally on my computer to test them to see if they work. This was recommended by the book I'm studying.
I'm trying to run a form script that returns data entered into a form. Here is what it looks like.

#!C:\Perl\bin\perl

use CGI ':standard':

my @name, @mail;

@name = param('name');
@mail = param('email');

print "Content-type: text/html\n\n";
print "<html><head><title>Parsing Form Data</title></head><body>\n";
print "<b>Hello, @name. Here is the data from the form you just
submitted:</b>\n\n<br><p><br>";
print "Name: @name<br>\n";
print "Email: @mail<br>";
print "</body></html>";

I'm trying to access the script via HTML by using:

<html>
<body>
<form action="/cgi-bin/steve.cgi" method=POST>

Name: <input type="text" name="name"><br>
Email: <input type="text" name="email"><br>

<input type="submit" value="Submit"><br>
<input type="reset" value="Clear"><br>
</body>
</html>
when I type in input and submit I get either a blank page or a prompt to download the cgi file.

Also, if I open up IExplorer and type in the address:
http://localhost/cgi-bin/steve.cgi
it shows the output I should be getting from the script

"Hello..Here is the data from the form you just submitted"

I hope this is enough info.Thanks for the help.

J. Patrick · Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2002 12:46 am Post subject:

The reason for that is because you are viewing the file right from your PC.

When you access localhost the server interprets the file and gives you the result. The server also knows what to do with the file unlike IE which just downloads anything that it doesn't know a mime type for. To put it simply CGI is server-side means it needs to be run from the server, in your case it was ran from something like c:\programs\abyss\htdocs\ which in no way directly contacts the server asking it to do anything.

On the other hand JavaScript for example is client-side meaning the browsers does all the work.

I hope I have answered your question.

-Patrick

aprelium · - Joined: 22 Mar 2002 Posts: 6800

sdoyle · Guest

So with all that being said and done. Is it at all possible for me to test my cgi scripts locally instead of uploading files to an external web server?

Ps-I do have the extensions cgi and pl associated with perl

thanks for the help

aprelium · - Joined: 22 Mar 2002 Posts: 6800

sdoyle · Guest

Works great! This is exactly what I wanted to do. Thanks so much for the help.

Steve